A Nation of Artists Preview

Get a first look at A Nation of Artists before it opens to the public. PAFA curators Lea C. Stephenson, Kenneth R. Woodcock Curator of Historical American Art, and Leah Triplett, Curator of Contemporary Art, come together for an intimate preview conversation exploring the surprising stories, overlooked artists, and bold curatorial choices behind this landmark exhibition marking America’s 250th anniversary.

What makes A Nation of Artists different from traditional American art surveys? How do you tell 250 years of American creativity—from colonial painters to contemporary innovators—in a way that honors complexity and challenges long-held assumptions? Stephenson and Triplett offer a behind-the-scenes look at how they reimagined the canon, centered marginalized voices, and created dynamic dialogues between historical and contemporary works to expand our understanding of what it has always meant to be an American artist.

This lunchtime program is part of PAFA’s Art at Noon: A Nation of Artists Series, a monthly conversation series that dives deep into the themes, artworks, and artists featured in the exhibition.

Join us at PAFA on April 1, 2026 — and be part of the conversation shaping Philadelphia’s cultural future.

This program is offered in a hybrid format—attend in person at PAFA or watch the live stream on YouTube. A link to the livestream will be emailed to all registrants by 11:30 AM on the day of the event.

This event is Pay What You Wish meaning there’s no fixed admission. Your contribution helps us create meaningful programs, inspire new ideas, and educate our community through the arts. Every gift supports the work we do and the artists who make it possible.

Featured Artwork: Charles Willson Peale, The Artist in His Museum, 1822. Oil on canvas, 103 3/4 × 79 7/8 in. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1878.1.2. Gift of Mrs. Sarah Harrison (The Joseph Harrison, Jr. Collection).